Hammerheads!

We hope you had a fun and safe Memorial Day Weekend. We look forward to jumping in the pool with you as we begin our first week of morning AND afternoon practice! Can't believe how time flies! Below, we have included some information for the upcoming week. Please read through all of the information below before sending questions our way - but do not hesitate to reach out if you run into any problems or concerns!

1. This Week's Schedule

2. Meet #1 Information

3. General Meet Information and Tips

4. Meet Absences Master List

5. Game Day

6. Junior Shark's this week

7. 7/8 BOYS Important Meet Information

8. Morning and Afternoon Practice Schedule

9. Time Trial's this week

10. Private Lessons - Note about Coach Laney

11. Next Week's Schedule

12. Reminder of Weather Policy

13. AFTER SWIM MEET DINNER

1. This Week's Schedule

Monday - NO PRACTICE (Memorial Day)
Tuesday - First Day of Morning Practice/Regular Afternoon Practice
Wednesday - Morning Practice/Swim Meet at HOME in the Afternoon
Thursday - Morning Game Day (Everyone report at 10AM)/Time Trials in the Afternoon
Friday - Morning Practice Only/No Fri. Afternoon Practices for the rest of the season

2. Meet #1 Information

Where: Hammond Hills Pool
Opponent: Riverside Club
Arrival Time: 4-4:15PM
Meet Start Time: 5:30PM
Expected Meet End Time for 7&Ups: 8:45-9:15PM (Given no weather delays)
*Please note you are expected to stay until all of your swimmer's events are completed. If your swimmer leaves before the relays and they are schedule to swim in the event, your swimmer(s) will not be put back in relays for the rest of the season. This may seem harsh, but swim meets take hours of planning and leaving early hurts both the coaches and their teammates. We appreciate your understanding and support!

3. General Meet Information and Tips

What kids should do during the day: Hydrate, eat healthy snacks, read books, watch movies, and hang out in air-conditioning. They have a big night ahead of them so we always tell parents to have them rest as much as they can and stay away from physical activity (such as riding bikes or playing on playgrounds) as much as they can the day of a swim meet.

Things to Bring for the kids: Two Towels, Sunscreen, Sunglasses, GOGGLES, water bottle, and games for the bullpen area. Don't forget to wear your team suit and t-shirts if you have them!

What to bring for yourself (adults): Lawn Chair is never a bad idea, sunscreen, sunglasses, bug spray, CASH for the concession stand, and beverages (sodas and water will be available for purchase at the concession stand).

What to do when you arrive to the pool: Park on the side on the road that does not have the signs. There is only parking on one side during swim meets so the earlier you get there, the better! Head straight for the bullpen area located on the steps near the playground - each step will be an age group. Sit down your kiddos on their stair and let the bullpen parents take it from there! They will be responsible for taking kids to and from events as well preparing them for warm-ups and writing events on their arms.

During the swim meet:

- Please leave your swimmer in the bullpen area so they are easy to find; if they must walk away for any reason, please notify your bullpen parent.
- Cheer on your kids!
- Volunteers report to the check-in desk upon arrival for assignment and materials
- Support our team by enjoying our CASH only concession stand (hamburgers, hot dogs, popcorn, candy, and world famous snow cones)
- Organized chaos! It will be very loud, exciting, and most of all - fun!

4. Meet Absences Master List

To view the Master Absences List for this season's swim meet, click this link - https://docs.google.com/document/d/1jsg3R0lwtu5ujQekYaQlx8u-bWAFFf2AJOm910RmIiU/edit?usp=sharing

This upcoming swim meet has already been planned - please report all other absences to [email protected] as soon as possible. If you run into any last minute absences due to unforeseeable circumstances (such as illness), please email Coach Laney at [email protected]. 

5. Game Day

Game Day always takes place the morning after the swim meet. We will have a special treat, award swimmers of the meet, and play games/free swim as a team. It is a great team event and should not be missed if at all possible. ALL SWIMMERS report at 10AM. There is no normal practice at Game Day.

6. Junior Shark's this week

Junior Sharks will have practice on TUESDAY and THURSDAY this week from 4:30-5PM. Please remember to bring flippers and goggles to each practice!

7. 7/8 BOYS IMPORTANT MEET INFORMATION

We wanted to go ahead and give all parents the heads up that our 7/8 Boys meet events is going to look very different based on each swimmer. Some of these boys may have 1, 2, 3, or 4 events at the meet based on the following:

- their ability to swim all strokes legally (as they won't get disqualified)
- their ability to only swim freestyle and no other strokes
- their prior experience with swim meets
- their times at time trials

*Our goal is for every swimmer to swim at least 3 events at every meet by the end of the season. This age group proves difficult as they continue to learn the strokes at such a young age. However, all of them are very capable and would benefit greatly from attending practice regularly (and/or private lessons). If any of the boys are discouraged, please remind them that they are still learning and will absolutely get the opportunity to swim more once they able to do more strokes. Thanks in advance for your understanding!

8. Morning and Afternoon Practice Schedule

To access the morning and afternoon practice schedules, please go to the Practice Schedule Tab on our website! (hammondhills.swimtopia.com)

9. Time Trial's this week

As always, Time Trials is our mandatory practice. Without your swimmer(s) times, we can't plan practices or our swim meets effectively. Please bring them this Thursday! Dinner available for sale TBD. Will let you know as soon as we know!

10. Private Lessons

Private lessons are great way to improve your swimmers abilities quickly and effectively. All coaches give private lessons at the following prices per half hour.

Coach Laney, Gabby, and Stephi - $30 per half hour

Coach Sydney - $20 per half hour

Coach Ian, James, and Kate - $15 per half hour

**COACH LANEY is currently looking to add some more diving and flip turn lessons to her schedule! She loves technique and teaching kids how to swim as well - but diving and turns are easy ways to build your swimmers' confidence and improve their practice/race performance. Email her now so she can get you on her schedule!

11. Next Week's Schedule

Monday - Normal Morning/Afternoon Practices
*Junior Sharks at 4:30PM.

Tuesday - Morning Practice/Swim AWAY in the afternoon (Details on calendar tab of website)
*No Junior Sharks.

Wednesday - Game Day in the morning/Normal Afternoon Practice
*Junior Sharks at 4:30PM.

Thursday - Normal Morning Practice/Time Trials
*Junior Sharks at 4:30PM.

Friday - Morning Practice Only
*No Junior Sharks.

12. Reminder of Weather Policy

If there is thunder or lightning, there is an automatic 30 minute wait. We will swim in the light rain, but will not in a complete downpour (we have to see the bottom of the pool).

We have swim meet weather delays and always prefer to not do make-up meets. However, we do a make-up the following day if needed. Same rules above apply to swim meets.

Our goal is always to keep your swimmers safe first. Please be reminded of this during weather delays (as we were .1 miles from a lightening strike last summer).

13. AFTER SWIM MEET DINNER

For those of you who are able to make it to our after-swim meet dinner, we will be heading around the corner to MOD Pizza on Roswell Road at the 285 exit! They make killer personal pizzas and salads and offer adult beverages. Great atmosphere too - not to mention, they're giving 15% of the profits back to our Hammerheads! Hope to see everyone there!

As always, we appreciate you guys! You make our jobs SO fun and we are SO thankful to your kids' coaches.

Sincerely,

Your 2018 Coaching Staff